Blade 230 S

Oxy3-Oxy2
Haven't owned the Oxy2 which is more of a backyard bird but did own the Oxy3. If you build and set it up properly then it will go and go even being flown hard.

Mine bounced around my truck all week with tools, building materials, ect but always worked perfectly every time I pulled it out. Had it about a year, put roughly 900 flights on it and only put a $6 belt on it at 500 flights cause the original looked a bit dry.

Merely doing wide open FFF on my 230 will make it start acting​ funny after 3-4 flights. 180 is a lot more reliable than the 230 IMHO but is nowhere near the Oxy in the performance department.

Oxy is more expensive but you definitely get what you pay for. On a level of reliability and performance that surpasses the larger Blade helis and makes their micros seem like toys.

Oxy3 is basically a small 450 but if the 2 is similar, then it's undoubtedly the best backyard heli on the market right now.

Thats funny stuff, but ive seen it many times before and would actually like opinions on the op's question.

I think that the answer is more dependent on the skill of the operator than the size of the heli. If you just want to hover, just about anything will do. If you want to fly circuits and small acrobatics, I think the smaller 3D helis would be a good selection.

I also don't think it is a good idea for a beginner to practice in small tight spaces.

...and would actually like opinions on the op's question.

Fair enough.

How big is your back yard and how do you fly? If you've got 200 acres and just hover the answer will be different than if you have just a small garden and are a monster on the sticks.

Without further information, I'd have to recommend any number of 450 class helicopters. It is a well developed area of model helicopters and any of about 10 different models will do nicely. Personally, I often fly my Tarot 450 on the golf course fairway behind my house.

The answer may be found in these questions: What is everyone (anyone) else in you area flying and how available are parts?

180cfx was made to fly not crash, but if you get servo savers or metal servo gears and redo the torque tube ends with some CA it crashes fairly well.

There are slipper/clutched tt's available as well but they can cause vibe issues. You get 2 stock tt's for $7 and can make another out of every 2 broken ones you have so I never bothered ​with expensive aftermarket tt's.

Space isn't the only factor on which will be best backyard heli for everyone.

If you just want to fly sport and practice inverted and upright orientations with a few basic flips/rolls thrown in. The XK-110 is cheap yet flies better and is more reliable than the Blade nano or mcpx.

If you want to do serious 3d then the 180 will be better, and if you want to hammer out advanced 3d on a pro level, every day for months on end then the Oxy2 is the only option available.

Why do you say that? Aren't there other good options?

"Well, Nothing bad can happen now."

IMHO If you're looking for something that's capable of any maneuver, reliable and practicing with it actually translates well to larger models then it's the only option in a true backyard size.

If you just want to putt around or have a backyard big enough for a 450 then there are many options.

For a cheap one that crashes okay and flies pretty darn good the 180cfx is a great option. One that crashes pretty darn good and flies okay the 230s is the way to go.

Being Blade helis you have to flip a coin when it comes to reliability. One can be a little Energizer Bunny and another of the same model can be nothing but trouble from start to finish.

If you fly hard then you're even more likely to have problems. You have to do smooth 3d with the 230 cause it's underpowered but it will do most of the common maneuvers just fine. What mine doesn't tolerate well is hard fast forward flight at 100% flat throttle. The servos will start acting funny about 3-4 flights in and I believe it's from the rx and not the servos themselves.

My 180 tolerates FFF just fine and is more 3d capable. It will break in a crash and parts are expensive for it's size but if you're quick on TH damage is usually minimal. Servo savers or metal servo gears are a must cause the stock gears will strip in a 2' drop onto 3" thick shag carpeting.

My 180 has been flown in rain, snow and -14°F temps and never had a single problem till a cyclic servo quit on flight 1000. My friend's 180 has never worked quite right and burned all 4 servos and the motor in about a month.

Same with Trex 150-250. Some work great and others are cursed.

Why I say the only option is the Oxy2. All the rest are toys, prone to issues or both. The title of the thread is most RELIABLE backyard heli. The BEST backyard heli is going to vary from person to person based on goals and skill level.

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